Fire-extinguishing apparatus



March 12, T957 R. w. AUSTIN 2,784,791

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1951 34\\` V". 30 60 .Ef-2,1 l/

a6 l n 52 i 50 14 J ATTORNEP United States Patenti FIRE-EXTINGUISHHNG APPARATUS Ralph W. Austin, Weymouth, Mass., assigner to Process Engineering, Inc., Somerville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 13, 1951, Serial No. 261,423

1 Claim. (Cl. 16931) This invention relates to lire-extinguishing apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel lire extinguisher of simple, economical construction which may be easily and quickly recharged and which can be placed in operation -in a minimum of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lire extinguisher of the type wherein an extinguishing liquid is expelled from the extinguishing casing by gaseous pressure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved mechanism for use in puncturing the seal of a container in which gas under pressure is stored in order to release the gas when it is desired to operate .the extinguisher.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the iire f extinguisher and in the seal-puncturing mechanism hereinatter described and particularly ldeiined in the claim at the end of this specication.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a vertical sectional view il1ustrating the operative portions of a tire extinguisher embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with portions broken away illustrating a modified form of the extinguisher illustrated in Fig. 1.

It has been recognized that those extinguishers wherein an extinguishing liquid is expelled from the extinguishing casing in the operation of the extinguisher and which include the Well known soda-acid types of extinguishers now on the market require refilling at frequent intervals in order Ito maintain the extinguishers in most etlicient operating condition. This is due to the fact that the gas-producing chemicals, namely the soda and acid, gradually lose their eflieiency.

One aspect of the present invention contemplates an extinguisher wherein this disadvantage is overcome. The gas for expelling the extinguishing liquid is in accordance with the present invention stored under pressure within a sealed container operatively supported Within the extinguisher casing, and provision is made for piercing the seal of the gas container and eiecting the immediate release of the gas within the container so that a rapid gas pressure is built up within the casing to force the extinguishing liquid from the container and to enable it to be directed against the fire. With this construction the extinguisher is maintained in most eilicient operation for relatively long periods of time requiring minimum attention and avoiding the necessity of frequent recharges. ln addition, when found necessary the sealed gas container may be replaced with minimum effort and minimum time.

The invention also contemplates novel mechanism for piercing the sealed container to release the gas including a puncturing pin and a rubber body within the puncturing pin is molded. The rubber body serves to enable the puncturing pinto be manually or otherwise depressed into puncturing position, and when the pressure is released from the rubber the latter returns the pin to its initial position. This seal-puncturing mechanism may be used "ice with advantage in various other types of extinguishers in addition to the type wherein an extinguishing liquid is to be discharged by the gas pressure released from the gas container.

Referring now to ythe drawing, which for purposes of illustration shows the different features of the invention as embodied in an extinguisher of the soda-acid type, ld is the extinguisher casing provided with the usual threaded open-neck portion l2. A cap indicated generally at 14 is provided with threads 16 arranged to engage threads 18 in the neck portion 12 of the casing 10 to permit the cap to be removably screwed on the neck portion 12 to close and seal the upper open end of the casing 10. Provision is made for supporting a normally sealed gas cartridge holding a substantial amount: lof gas under pressure from the cap 14. In practice, the cartridge may comprise a carbon dioxide cartridge, and provision is also made for `operatively supporting the cartridgepiercing mechanism from the cap to the end that the cartridge may be pierced and the gas released to expel the extinguish* ing liquid whenever it is desired to operate the extin guisher.

As herein shown, the upper portion of the cap is provided with an upstanding portion 20 provided with in ternal threads as at 22 and an elongated tubular cartridge holder 24 provided with external threads 26 at its upper end is arranged to be screwed into the threaded opening in the upstanding portion 20 of the cap 14. A hanged portion of a cylindrical, resilient rubber plunger 3d is interposed between the upper end of the car-tridge holder 24 and the upper end of the opstanding portion Ztl ot' the cap, and the upper end 32 of the plunger 3G is arranged to extend through a hole in the upstanding portion 20 to project above the upper surface thereof, as shown in Fig. l. The plunger 30 has molded longitudinally within its central portion a metal puncture pin 34 having its lower end sharply pointed. The pin 34 is arranged to extend below the lower end of the plunger 3i), and when the parts are in normal position to be disposed slightly above the upper end of the cap constituting the seal of the carbon dioxide cartridge. The latter is provided with a threaded neck portion arranged to screw into the internally threaded portion 28 of the cartridge holder 24 and in the position shown in Fig. l. The body portion 38 of the cartridge is enlarged to hold a substantial quantity of the carbon dioxide or other gas under press-ure. The cartridge 36 may be readily removed from the cartridge holder when it is desired to recharge the extinguisher. In practice, the carbon dioxide cartridge may be purchased in the open market and is sealed by a metal cap i1 having a thin disk 42 designed to be punctured by the pin 34. The cap 41 is further preferably provided with a metering disk 43 welded or otherwise secured therein and by which the carbon dioxide may be metered when the extinguisher is operated.

The portion of the cartridge holder 24 above the upper end of the cartridge is enlarged to form a chamber Sil and channels or openings 54, 56 in the side walls thereot` to enable the gas to pass down into the body of the extinguishing casing when the cartridge is pierced by the depression of the puncturing pin 34 by pressure exerted on the upper end of the rubber plunger 3G. After the seal 42 has been punctured the resiliency of the rubber serves to return the parts to the position shown in Fig. l when the pressure exerted on the plunger has been released. ln operation, the gas pressure developed upon the Lipper surface of the extinguishing liquid 7) within the extinguishing casing 10 serves to expel the liquid through the discharge nozzle 62 which in practice may be provided with the usual hose 64 as illustrated. In the modiiication shown in Fig. 2 I have illustrated an operating handle 68 by which downward pressure may be con- 3 veniently exertedy upon the upper end of the rubber plunger 30 to eiect 4thefdepressionofthe'puncturing'pin to pierce the metal disk 42. I have also illustrated a tube 72 arranged to extend from within` the exit nozzle 62 downwardly toy near bottom of thel extinguisher to facilitate the complete expulsionl ofi the extinguishing-liquid froml withinthe casing 10;

While the present seal-piercing mechanism nds particular useinextinguishersiofA the type illustrated wherein an'extinguishing liquidlis expelled from an extinguishing casing, it isrecognized that this piercing mechanism'is useful in other types of extinguishers wherever it is desired to pierce they seal of a container within which gas under pressureV is stored; For example, instead of a liquid extinguishing medium, dry chemicals may be used as the. extinguishing'medium,. such asa mixture of about 90% sodi-um bicarbonate andthe remainder amixture-of zinc and magnesium stearates. The stearates minimize caking of lthe bicarbonate.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed AA lire extinguisher havingv an` extinguisher casing provided with a relatively large opening in its upper endv and cap normally closing saidV opening, a gas pressurized cartridge having a threaded neck and a puncturable upper end, means for suspending the cartridge `from the underside `of the capmember, said means comprising a hollow' cartridge holder member provided with a threaded bore inits lower endv and into which the threaded neck of the cartridge is screwed, said cap having aninternally threaded boss provided with an open ing, the upper end of the cartridge holder being threaded and screwed into said boss, and cartridge puncturing means comprising a resilient cylindrical rubber plunger having a lower portion positioned in and movable within the upper end of said cartridge'holder and having a puncturing pin depending therefrom, said plunger being provided with an integral rubber ange disposedfbetween the upper end of said cartridge holder and said. boss and with an upper portion projecting, above the capy through said opening in said boss, said puncturing pin being normally disposed a short distance above the upper end of the cartridge to be moved into puncturing position when the plunger is manually depressed to compress the plunger and liex said flange.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,149 Mapes July 18, 1933- 2,004,018 Strauss June 4, 1935 2,118,597 Ferguson May 24, 1938- 2,129,465 Dodelin Sept. 6, 1938 2,347,010 Ward Apr. 18, 1944 2,476,748l MacGregor July 19, 1949v 2,531,123 G-uise et al. Nov. 21, 1950 2,682,967 Hill July 6, 1954 2,684,180 Allen July 20, 1954 

